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Arusha National Park, Serengeti & Ngorongoro – 5-Day Tanzania Safari
What's Included for You
Day-by-Day Breakdown
You are picked up at 8:30 AM from your hotel in Arusha and driven to Arusha National Park, about 40 minutes, for a full day out. This small park sits at the base of Mount Meru and climbs from montane rainforest to alpine moorland, so in one day you see very different landscapes.
The day includes something few safari parks allow: a guided walk with an armed ranger, on foot among giraffes, buffaloes and warthogs. After a picnic lunch you go on a game drive past the Momella Lakes, often pink with flamingos, and into the forest where black-and-white colobus monkeys leap through the canopy. Birdlife is rich all day. In the evening you return to your lodge in Arusha for a relaxed dinner.
At a glance: Time needed: ~7 hrs walk and game drive · Travel: ~1.5 hrs driving · Pace: Moderate
Schedule
• Morning (8:30 AM): Hotel pick-up and drive to Arusha National Park, about 40 min.
• Late morning: Guided walking safari with an armed ranger, about 2 hrs.
• Noon: Picnic lunch at a scenic spot in the park.
• Afternoon: Game drive to the Momella Lakes and the montane forest, about 3 hrs, looking for colobus monkeys, giraffes and flamingos.
• Evening: Return to your lodge in Arusha. Dinner.
Travel for the day
• Arusha → Arusha National Park ~40 min by 4x4 Land Cruiser, and the same back.
Tips & what to carry
• Carry your yellow fever vaccination certificate; Indian health authorities check it on your return from Tanzania.
• Wear closed walking shoes and long trousers for the walk; there can be thorns and ants.
• Wear neutral colours. Dark blue and black attract tsetse flies.
• Mount Meru is often in cloud; early morning gives the best chance of a clear view.
Included today
• Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner
• Stay: Crest Safari Lodge - Standard, Arusha
Overnight: Arusha
Note: Hotels shown are indicative. Final hotels are confirmed in the same category once your travel dates are fixed, and dates can affect the overall price.
Your safari proper begins at 8:00 AM with a pick-up from your hotel and a drive of about six hours (240 km) to Serengeti National Park, up through the Karatu farmlands and over the forested rim of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The name Serengeti comes from the Maasai word for 'endless plains', and when the grassland opens out in front of you it is easy to see why.
Covering over 14,700 sq km, the park is home to the Big Five (elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard) as well as impalas and huge herds of plains game. You explore the Seronera region, known for its lion prides and the Seronera River, and the granite kopjes that shelter many species. A picnic lunch is part of the game drive, and the day ends with dinner at your camp in the heart of the Serengeti.
At a glance: Time needed: ~3 hrs game drive · Travel: ~6 hrs driving (240 km) · Pace: Full
Schedule
• Morning (8:00 AM): Hotel pick-up and drive towards the Serengeti via Karatu and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
• Noon: Picnic lunch during the drive, usually near the Naabi Hill gate.
• Afternoon: Game drive into the Seronera region, about 3 hrs, past the kopjes and along the river.
• Evening: Arrive at your camp in Central Serengeti before sunset. Dinner.
Travel for the day
• Arusha → Central Serengeti ~6 hrs (240 km) by 4x4 Land Cruiser, partly on gravel roads.
Tips & what to carry
• Carry a fleece for the cold highland stretch and a scarf for the dust on the plains.
• Keep water, snacks, sunscreen and spare batteries in your day bag in the vehicle.
• Do not walk outside the camp after dark without a staff escort.
Included today
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Stay: Tukaone Camps, Central Serengeti
Overnight: Central Serengeti
Today is all about the central Serengeti, known for its dense population of lions and leopards and year-round game viewing. You have two options. Enjoy a relaxed breakfast and leave around 9:00 AM for a full-day drive with a packed lunch, returning by about 6:00 PM. Or start with a 6:00 AM morning drive, come back for breakfast and a short rest, then head out again in the afternoon with a packed lunch.
The Seronera River attracts animals throughout the year, so even outside the migration season you can expect excellent sightings of resident lion prides. Look for leopards draped over branches, cheetahs on termite mounds, and elephants, giraffes and hippos near the water. The day ends with dinner at camp.
At a glance: Time needed: ~9 hrs game drives · Travel: All driving inside the park · Pace: Full
Schedule
• Morning (6:00 AM or 9:00 AM): Option 1: breakfast, then a full-day game drive from 9:00 AM. Option 2: early game drive at 6:00 AM, back for breakfast and rest.
• Noon: Packed lunch in the bush.
• Afternoon: Game drive around the Seronera River and kopjes, about 3–4 hrs.
• Evening (around 6:00 PM): Return to camp. Dinner.
• Optional: Sunrise hot-air balloon safari, about 1 hr flight plus a bush breakfast (booked in advance, paid separately).
Travel for the day
• Game drives within Central Serengeti by 4x4 Land Cruiser.
Tips & what to carry
• The early drive gives the best chance of seeing predators hunting.
• Binoculars and a zoom lens make a big difference for leopards.
• A hat and sunscreen are essential with the roof open.
• Stay seated and quiet when the vehicle stops near animals.
Included today
• Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Stay: Tukaone Camps, Central Serengeti
Overnight: Central Serengeti
After breakfast, enjoy a morning game drive in Serengeti National Park as you head for the exit, often the best light and the most active animals of the day. Then you depart for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area with a picnic lunch en route.
The road climbs to the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, home to around 30,000 animals and surrounded by extinct volcanoes, with viewpoints looking down onto the floor you will explore tomorrow. You continue to Karatu for a hearty dinner and the night at your lodge.
At a glance: Time needed: ~3 hrs game drive · Travel: ~4 hrs driving · Pace: Full
Schedule
• Morning (around 7:00 AM): Breakfast and check-out. Game drive in the Serengeti, about 3 hrs.
• Noon: Picnic lunch en route.
• Afternoon: Drive through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area with a crater rim viewpoint stop, about 4 hrs.
• Evening: Check in at your lodge in Karatu. Dinner.
Travel for the day
• Central Serengeti → Ngorongoro Conservation Area → Karatu ~4 hrs by 4x4 Land Cruiser.
Tips & what to carry
• The rim is at around 2,300 m and can be cold and misty. Keep a jacket handy.
• Take motion-sickness tablets if bumpy roads bother you.
• Charge your camera tonight; tomorrow starts early.
Included today
• Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Stay: Omega View Hotel, Karatu
Overnight: Karatu
On your final day you have an early breakfast and descend into the Ngorongoro Crater at around 6:30 AM for a five-hour game drive. The crater is home to elephants, black rhinos, lions, buffaloes, hyenas and huge herds of zebra and wildebeest, and offers some of the best wildlife viewing in Africa in a single morning.
After a picnic lunch by the Hippo Pool, you climb out of the crater and begin the drive back to Arusha, about four hours, arriving by 6:00 PM. This is where your safari ends.
At a glance: Time needed: ~5 hrs game drive · Travel: ~4 hrs drive to Arusha · Pace: Full
Schedule
• Morning (around 6:30 AM): Early breakfast and descent into the crater.
• Late morning: Game drive on the crater floor: soda lake, swamps and grasslands.
• Noon: Picnic lunch at the Hippo Pool.
• Afternoon: Ascent out of the crater and drive to Arusha, about 4 hrs.
• Evening (by 6:00 PM): Arrive in Arusha. End of safari.
Travel for the day
• Karatu → crater floor ~1 hr; crater rim → Arusha ~4 hrs by 4x4 Land Cruiser.
Tips & what to carry
• It is cold on the crater floor at dawn. Wear layers you can peel off as it warms.
• Black kites swoop on food at the Hippo Pool. Eat inside the vehicle.
• Plan your onward flight or an Arusha hotel night for after 6:00 PM.
• Tipping your guide at the end of the safari is customary; ask your consultant for current norms.
Included today
• Meal: Breakfast & Lunch
How we’ll design yours
A quick call to understand your pace, must-dos, budget and who's travelling.
A day-by-day shaped around you — not pulled off a shelf.
Tweak it as much as you like until every day feels right.
Reservations handled, and a real person on WhatsApp the whole way.
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Travellers on Tanzania. Real words.
It was a wonderful experience!! We had lovely time with our family ! Vikas was amazing with coordinating and doing what we wanted ! We visited Tanzania and Zanzibar and it was amazing ! Must visit with kids ! My kids loved it ! Looking forward to many more trips :)
From start to finish, this trip was a dream come true! Midhun planned everything so well that we never had to worry about a thing. The lodges were superb 🏕️, the safari experience in Serengeti & Ngorongoro was mind-blowing, and our guide was so knowledgeable about wildlife. Highly recommended for families!
Wow! This was beyond expectations! Kirthika crafted the perfect honeymoon safari for us. The mix of luxury lodges and adventure was spot on. Seeing the Big Five up close 🦁🐘🐆 was surreal! The sunset at Serengeti with champagne was magical. 🥂 Thank you, team!
From the start to the end, our journey was an incredible one. All the hotels were friendly, mostly close to the airport and also near to "must visit" and "hotspot" places. They were also pretty neat and had proper customer service. On our trip through Kenya, we had an amazing driver and guide, David. He was very enthusiastic to show us all the animals of Maasai Mara, from antelopes and gazelles to the big five animals, he wanted us to see them all. David was also pretty knowledgeable and knows in and out about Maasai Mara, it's residents, and it's animals. Overall, our trip through Kenya was made unforgettable by David. Zanzibar (Tanzania) was a scenic place which provided a lot of unforgettable memories through it's vast seas and islands. This was made possible by the hotel (which had the best food) and the people there. Thus, our journey through Kenya and Zanzibar was simply amazing and we are sure to recommend traveling through Kenya and Zanzibar with tour on to others
As a solo female traveler, I was a little nervous, but Lohith assured me of a safe and seamless trip—and he delivered! Everything was well-planned, from my airport pickup to my stays in beautiful lodges. The guides were friendly and made sure I was comfortable throughout. Tanzania, you stole my heart! ❤️
Everything to know before you book
- You will be added to our Travel WhatsApp Channel for continuous support and real-time updates throughout your journey.
- We will collect the required documents such as Passport, Aadhaar, PAN, or any additional ID needed for your trip.
- For international travel, please ensure your passport has a minimum validity of 180 days from your return date.
- Hotels and flights will be booked within a 3-hour SLA window after payment confirmation and shared with you.
- In case of non-availability, we will suggest the closest alternative options without affecting your budget and proceed after your approval.
- The Visa process will be initiated as per the required timeline for the destination country.
- The next steps and a clear travel timeline will be shared with you for complete transparency.
- All necessary hard copies, including travel vouchers and gift vouchers for future travel, will be dispatched to your address for easy access during the trip.
Everything you need
to know.
Common questions about Arusha National Park, Serengeti & Ngorongoro – 5-Day Tanzania Safari.